CHAPEL HILL, NC-- The season came to an end for the Winthrop soccer team after it fell to North Carolina 6-0 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Friday evening at Fetzer Field.

     Ryan Kneipper was a one man show as he tallied a career-best five goals against the Eagles.

     North Carolina (14-6-1) jumped on top 1-0 in the 10th minute and added another in the 18th minute. That remained until halftime.

     After playing dead into a 20-25 mph wind for the entire first half, the Eagles felt the momentum could shift and at the beginning of the second half it did as Winthrop was applying the pressure on the Tarheels. However, North Carolina was able to hold off the pressure and eventually countered in the 64th minute for a 3-0 lead. Everything continued to go the Tarheels way as they scored their next three goals within a three minute and six second span.

     Steve Winton made five saves for the Eagles.

     It was the first NCAA appearance in Winthrop soccer history. The Eagles finish the season with a 15-7-1 record. The 15 victories ties a career-high for head coach Rich Posipanko's teams. He won 15 games twice at Longwood and his previous best at Winthrop was 13 in 1994.